Millions of learners in junior school may have disruptions in learning when schools open for the second term if intern teachers make real a threat to boycott work, demanding confirmation of employment by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
44,000 intern teachers are deployed to junior schools, making almost half of the teaching force in the schools, which remain understaffed. The teachers are demanding compliance with a Court of Appeal ruling that engagement of the teachers as interns is unlawful. However, the TSC finds itself in a cul-de-sac since it does not have a budgetary allocation to employ the teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
“What we are saying is ‘no confirmation, no teaching.’ If we are not considered for confirmation, then our services should also not be taken for granted. We are trying to support the implementation of competency-based education (CBE), but motivation is important. The token we receive, which is presented as a salary, is too little and cannot sustain us, in terms of basic survival,” said Rodgers Odhiambo, the chairperson of the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KEJUSTA).
He cautioned that a withdrawal of teaching services would significantly disrupt learning, particularly in junior schools where intern teachers form a sizeable portion of the workforce.
“Junior schools may not be ready for the second term. This will paralyse learning because the government does not have us at heart. This is likely to cause complications as schools open for the second term. Many junior school teachers are saying, ‘no confirmation, no teaching,” he said.
The KEJUSTA chair said teachers had initially been hopeful following the court ruling, expecting that the government would move to absorb them on permanent and pensionable terms.
“We were very happy because we believed that by the end of the day, the government would respond to the court ruling and confirm us to permanent and pensionable terms. But that issue has been given a deaf ear, and no one is talking about it anymore. The budget that was allocated to the TSC will not be used to confirm the 44,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms,” he said.
“It has really affected our morale. You talk to a teacher right now and they will tell you they have lost hope in teaching,” he said.
Mr Odhiambo urged the government to urgently intervene and prioritise the welfare of teachers, noting that supporting educators is essential for the success of learners.
President William Ruto on Wednesday assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Act for the 2025/2026 financial year, raising total government spending to Sh4.695 trillion—an increase aimed at addressing urgent national priorities, including personnel costs.
In the supplementary budget, the TSC was allocated Sh24.2 billion, an allocation specifically earmarked to cover salary shortfalls and health insurance contributions for teachers, effectively signaling that the funds are meant to stabilise existing payroll pressures rather than create room for new hires.
President William Ruto in a past photo. He signed seven Bills into law on October 15, 2025, just before he formally announced the news of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Photo credit: PCS
“The education sector received a significant share of additional funding, for Sh24.2 billion allocated to the Teachers Service Commission to cover salary shortfalls and health insurance contributions for teachers,” reads the budget.
This leaves little clarity on how, or whether, the thousands of intern teachers will be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms.
Speaking to the Nation , TSC acting CEO Evaleen Mitei said the commission is in talks with government agencies to secure funding for hiring intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
“As articulated before the Education Committee on 17th March, 2026, the additional allocation of Sh21 billion in the Supplementary Budget will be majorly utilised for deficit in the employee remuneration budget which was less by Sh12.8 billion and the teachers’ medical scheme of Sh7.5 billion. The rest will cater for secretariat emolument and field operations,” said Ms Mitei.
Teachers Service Commission CEO Evaleen Mitei speaks to the media at the Ministry of Health offices in Nairobi on March 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“The commission is still consulting with other relevant government agencies to secure funds for the recruitment of interns on permanent and pensionable terms of service,” she added.
The secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers, Akello Misori, called for urgent Parliamentary intervention to allocate funds for the employment of the intern teachers, warning that failure to act could undermine the country’s education system and broader economic development.
Mr Misori said Parliament, particularly the National Assembly’s Education Committee, must take responsibility for ensuring that government policy aligns with the Court of Appeal ruling that declared the continued engagement of teachers as interns unlawful.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“This is a matter that Parliament must take seriously. Government cannot be seen to be breaking the law when it has the mandate to allocate resources and make policy decisions, especially in critical sectors like education,” he said.
He argued that the absence of budgetary allocation for teacher employment reflects misplaced priorities and delays the transition of thousands of qualified teachers into permanent and pensionable terms.
According to Mr Misori, continued reliance on internship programmes creates instability within the education sector and leaves teachers in prolonged uncertainty, despite clear legal direction.
He warned that failure to invest adequately in teachers could have far-reaching consequences on the country’s development.
“Education, health and security form the backbone of any economy. Without a properly educated population, even basic progress becomes difficult,” he said.
According to the Supplementary Budget, Sh4.1 billion has been allocated for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), raising its total to Sh45.6 billion
Sh3.88 billion will go to clear outstanding university salary arrears from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and to support the Wings to Fly programme.
Other allocations are Sh6 billion, through the State Department for Higher Education is meant for Moi University and Kabarnet University and Sh1.5 billion for the University Funding Board.
